Magazine safety device

ABSTRACT

Devices and methods for converting a magazine capable of holding live rounds to being capable of only holding blanks at the bottom of the magazine. A magazine safety device includes a spacer and a follower in one embodiment. The spacer can be sized and shaped so as to be placed generally between the front and rear walls of a magazine, with a portion of the spacer being disposed adjacent to a round loading opening of the magazine. Embodiments of the magazine safety device can allow a user to quickly and efficiently inspect the magazine to confirm the magazine is not loaded with live rounds. In one embodiment, the magazine safety device includes a highly visible spacer that can allow a user to confirm the magazine is loaded with blanks. Additionally, embodiments of the magazine safety device can prevent the magazine from being loaded with a plurality of live rounds.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to training safety devices and methods,and, more particularly, to weapons safety devices for use during blankfire operations.

2. Description of the Related Art

Police and military forces conduct drills, simulated combat, andtraining exercises using blank ammunition instead of real, or live,ammunition. Extra precaution is required to ensure that firearmmagazines are only loaded with blank cartridges during these exercises.Blank fire operations are nonetheless inherently dangerous, however,because a live cartridge, or round, may be mistakenly inserted into afirearm magazine or inadvertently left in a magazine, creating thepossibility that a user will discharge the live round and injure or killanother participant. For example, in order to simulate combat againstthe enemy, blank-fire training often calls for a participant to “fire” ablank-loaded weapon at other participants in the training exercise whoare acting as opposing forces. When a live round is accidentallyintroduced into the weapon and fired at a participant, serious injuryand death may result. Further, the shape of many types of magazines canhinder inspection of the magazine to determine if a live round has beeninadvertently introduced into the magazine.

Thus, preventing a live round from accidentally being discharged duringblank fire exercises and facilitating inspection of blank-loadedmagazines during such operations remains a significant challenge inmilitary and law enforcement operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The devices of the present invention have several features, no singleone of which is solely responsible for its desirable attributes. Withoutlimiting the scope of this invention as expressed by the claims whichfollow, its more prominent features will now be discussed briefly. Afterconsidering this discussion, and particularly after reading the sectionentitled “Detailed Description,” one will understand how the features ofthis invention provide several advantages over current designs.

One embodiment is a kit for converting a magazine capable of holdinglive rounds to being capable of only holding blanks at a bottom of themagazine. The blanks have a length less than a length of the liverounds. The magazine includes an upper portion, a lower portion, a frontwall, and a rear wall, the front and rear walls defining at least partof an opening in the upper portion and into the magazine. The front andrear walls are spaced apart along an axis by a predetermined length thatis greater than the length of the live rounds. The kit comprises aspacer sized and shaped so as to be placed generally between the frontand rear walls with a portion of the spacer being disposed adjacent tothe opening. The portion of the spacer adjacent to the opening having alength measured along the axis to prevent loading of a plurality of thelive rounds through the opening and into the magazine and allow loadingof the blanks through the opening and into the magazine. The kitincludes a follower configured to slide within the magazine.

Another embodiment is a spacer for converting a magazine to prevent themagazine from holding a plurality of live rounds while allowing themagazine to hold blanks. The blanks have a length less than a length ofthe live rounds. The magazine includes an upper portion, a lowerportion, a front wall, and a rear wall, the front and rear wallsdefining at least part of an opening in the upper portion and into themagazine. The front and rear walls are spaced apart along an axis by apredetermined length that is greater than the length of the live rounds.The spacer comprises a body sized and shaped so as to be placedgenerally between the front and rear walls with a portion of the spacerbeing disposed adjacent to the opening.

Another embodiment is a magazine for use with a firearm. The magazinecomprises a body for supporting rounds and having a round loadingopening and a follower disposed so as to move along a path within thebody. The magazine further includes a spacer removably disposed in thebody and generally extending parallel to the path of the follower. Thespacer selectively allows insertion of rounds through the round loadingopening and into the body at least when the spacer is disposed withinthe body.

Yet another embodiment is directed to a spacer for use with a magazinethat holds rounds and is engageable with a firearm. The magazine has afront wall and a rear wall defining at least a portion of a receivingspace and an upper opening, the upper opening extending between thefront and rear walls and being configured to receive rounds having afirst length and rounds having a second length loaded into the receivingspace. The first length is greater than the second length. The spacercomprises a body sized and shaped so as to removably fit within thereceiving space and between the front and rear walls so as to block onlya portion of the upper opening. The partially blocked opening prevents aplurality of rounds having the first length from being loaded into themagazine.

Another embodiment is directed to a magazine for a firearm. The magazinecomprises a shell having an upper portion, a lower portion, a front walland a rear wall, the front and rear walls being spaced apart along anaxis by a predetermined length and a plate being formed at the lowerportion. The magazine further comprises a groove extending downwardlyalong the front wall and a spacer at least partially supported by thegroove, at least a portion of the spacer being disposed between thefirst and second walls. The magazine further includes an opening formedat the upper portion and having a length along the axis that is lessthan the predetermined length at least when the spacer is disposedwithin the shell, a follower movably disposed within the shell, and aspring biasing the follower in a direction towards the opening.

Further aspects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the detailed description that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will now be described in connection with embodiments of thepresent invention, in reference to the accompanying drawings. Theillustrated embodiments, however, are merely examples and are notintended to limit the invention.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a firearm engaged with a magazine that caninclude a safety device that prevents the magazine from being loadedwith a plurality of live rounds according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a live round which can be loaded into themagazine of FIG. 1 when the safety device is removed from the magazineand can not be loaded into the magazine of FIG. 1 when the safety deviceis installed within the magazine.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a blank which can be loaded into the magazineof FIG. 1 with or without the safety device installed.

FIG. 4 is a partial-cutaway, perspective view of the magazineillustrated in FIG. 1 without the safety device so as to accommodateboth live rounds and blanks.

FIG. 4A is a partial-cutaway, side view of the magazine of FIG. 4, shownloaded with only live rounds.

FIG. 4B is a partial-cutaway, side view of the magazine of FIG. 4, shownloaded with only blanks.

FIG. 4C is a partial-cutaway, side view of the magazine of FIG. 4, shownloaded with both blanks and live rounds, the blanks being above the liverounds.

FIG. 5 is a partial-cutaway, side view of the magazine of FIG. 4Cshowing how the view of a person inspecting the entire magazine for liverounds is partially blocked in part by the curve of the magazine.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the magazine from FIG. 4 with themagazine safety device installed.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the magazine and the magazine safetydevice of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the magazine safety device from FIG. 7assembled together prior to installation within the magazine.

FIG. 9 is a representative view of the magazine safety device from FIG.9 partially loaded with blanks.

FIG. 10 is an opposite end perspective view of a follower and a springassembled together from the magazine safety device of FIG. 7.

FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C are a top elevation view, a right side elevationview, and a front side elevation view, respectively of a spacer of themagazine safety device of FIG. 7.

FIG. 11D is a partial perspective view of another embodiment of a spacerof the magazine safety device of FIG. 7.

FIG. 11E is a partial top elevation view of the spacer of FIG. 11D.

FIG. 12 is a front view of a prior art follower which is removed fromthe magazine of FIG. 1 when the safety device is installed in themagazine.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are front and back views, respectively, of thefollower of the magazine safety device of FIG. 7.

FIGS. 13C and 13D are right and left side views, respectively, of thefollower of the magazine safety device of FIG. 7.

FIGS. 13E and 13F are bottom and top views, respectively, of thefollower of the magazine safety device of FIG. 7.

FIG. 14A is a partial cut-away, perspective view of the magazine fromFIG. 4 with the bottom plate removed and showing the magazine safetydevice as it is installed within the magazine.

FIG. 14B is a partial cut-away, perspective view of the magazine fromFIG. 14A after installation of the magazine safety device andreplacement of the bottom plate.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating one method for modifying themagazine of FIG. 4 with the magazine safety device of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is directed to certain specificembodiments of the invention. However, the invention can be embodied ina multitude of different ways as defined and covered by the claims. Inthis description, reference is made to the drawings wherein like partsare designated with like numerals throughout.

Embodiments of the invention can provide devices and methods to preventlive rounds from being introduced into a firearm magazine, and tofacilitate inspection of firearm magazines to ensure no live rounds arepresent in the magazines. The following description describesembodiments of the invention with reference to a Caliber 5.56 mm M-16rifle, the United States military's designation for the AR-15 rifle.Persons of skill in the art will understand, however, that the inventionis not limited to the M-16 rifle, and can be implemented on any firearmhaving a magazine or ammunition housing. Similarly, any user of blankammunition, in addition to military and law enforcement personnel, canuse the devices and methods described herein.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a firearm 10, an M-16 A4 rifle, that iscommonly used by military and police forces in hostile environments andlive combat, as well as blank-fire operations. The firearm is engagedwith a removable magazine that can include a safety device describedbelow that prevents the firearm 10 from firing live rounds. It will beunderstood that a firearm with a built-in or internal magazine can alsoinclude the safety device described below. Additionally, rotary or drummagazines can include a safety device described below. A member of thearmed forces or law enforcement trainee may be issued one firearm 10,which is used for hostile activities and live-fire exercises on, forexample, shooting ranges to practice marksmanship and teach weaponshandling basics, such as loading, unloading, firing, and cleaning theweapon. The same firearm 10 may be used by the trainee during blank-firetraining operations, thereby introducing the possibility that liverounds may accidentally be discharged during blank-fire exercises if themagazine is not retrofitted with the safety device described below.

For instance, military and law enforcement training exercises frequentlyuse the Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System, or MILES, anadvanced training system that employs lasers and blanks to simulateactual battle. The system allows users to fire blanks from a weapon,such as firearm 10, at friendly troops role playing as the enemy. Firinga blank through the weapon triggers a carefully aimed laser emitterattached to a barrel 12 of the firearm 10. Sensors worn in variouslocations on the intended target's body register a hit, providingreal-time event data. Training exercises using MILES can be particularlydangerous because they involve direct-fire, force-on-force trainingcapabilities. Firearms 10, built and designed to be loaded with and todischarge live rounds, are instead loaded with blanks and aimed directlyat friendly troops.

Thus, the firearm 10 is typically configured for blank-fire operationsby emptying a standard magazine 20 of all rounds, then reloading themagazine 20 with blanks. However, a firearm 10 configured for blank-fireoperations is still capable of firing live ammunition. Further, themagazine 20 generally appears the same externally independent of thetype of rounds loaded in the magazine 20.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a live round 30 which can be loaded into themagazine of FIG. 1 when the safety device is removed from the magazineand can not be loaded into the magazine of FIG. 1 when the safety deviceis installed within the magazine. FIG. 3 is a side view of a blank 40which can be loaded into the magazine of FIG. 1 with or without thesafety device installed. The live round 30 includes bullet 32,gunpowder, and primer packaged in a single metallic case. In contrast,the blank 40 includes gunpowder and primer, but no bullet. When theblank 40 is fired, it makes a flash and an explosive sound, simulatingthe effects of firing a live round 30. Because the blank 40 does notinclude a bullet, its length L_(B) can be less than a length L_(L) ofthe live round 40. For example, the live round 30 may be approximately2¼ inches in length, while the blank 40 may be 1.9 inches in length.Other lengths are possible.

Firing the blank 40 results in reduced barrel pressure compared tofiring a live round 30. To assist a firearm 10 loaded with blanks 40 tocycle properly with reduced barrel pressure, a blank fire adapter, orBFA, may be screwed on to the end of the firearm 10, blocking the barrel12 (FIG. 1). The blank fire adapter can be configured to increase barrelpressure and cause the bolt of the firearm 10 to cycle. In cases where alive round 30 is accidentally fired from a firearm 10 configured with ablank fire adapter, a bullet passes through the adapter, causing anexplosion. Such explosions are another potential cause of injury duringblank-fire mishaps.

FIG. 4 is a partial-cutaway, side view of the magazine 20 illustrated inFIG. 1 without the safety device so as to accommodate both live roundsand blanks. The magazine 20 is engageable with the firearm 10 and cancomprise a housing or shell for supporting rounds. In some embodiments,the housing or body of the magazine 20 is curved to facilitate storageof rounds into the magazine 20 and uptake of the rounds into the firearm10 during firing. For example, the curve in the magazine 20 canfacilitate loading when twenty or more cartridges are loaded in themagazine 20. The housing of the magazine 20 can include a front wall 70and a rear wall 75 defining at least a portion of a receiving space. Thefront wall 70 and the rear wall may be spaced apart along an axis A by apredetermined distance or length D. In one embodiment, the predetermineddistance D is greater than the length L_(L) of a live round 30.

The housing of the magazine 20 can also include an upper portion 80 anda lower portion 85. The upper portion 80 of the magazine 20 can includea round loading opening or upper opening 29. The round loading opening29 has a length along the axis A. In one embodiment, the length of theround loading opening 29 is the same as or substantially similar to thepredetermined distance D. In some aspects, the magazine 20 includes abottom plate 400 (FIG. 6) formed at the lower portion 85.

The receiving space of the housing may accept one or more rounds. Thus,as described in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 4A-4C, thehousing of the magazine 20 without the safety device can accept liverounds 30 or blanks 40, or both at the same time.

The magazine 20 can include a follower 50. The follower 50 can extendbetween the front wall 70 and the rear wall 75 of the magazine 20. Thefollower 50 includes a bullet support member 52 in the shape of acartridge. The bullet support member 52 can indicate the properorientation to load cartridges into the magazine 20. The bullet supportmember can also provide support for the first cartridge as it is loadedinto the magazine 20. The magazine 20 can also include a spring 60 whichcan bias the follower 50 in a direction towards the round loadingopening 29 of the magazine 20. The follower 50 is generally verticallymovable within the magazine 20.

To load either live rounds 30 or blanks 40 into the magazine 20, a firstround is positioned on top of the follower 50 next to the bullet supportmember 52. The user then pushes down on the round until it catches a lip22 of the magazine 20, forcing the follower 50 in the direction of arrow54 and partially compressing the spring 60 in the magazine 20. A secondround is then inserted into the magazine 20 by positioning the roundabove the bullet support member 52 and pushing down on the round in thedirection of arrow 54 until it catches a lip 24 of the magazine 20. Morerounds are loaded in the same manner, pushing the follower 50 furtherdown into the magazine 20 and compressing the spring 60 further witheach round that is loaded. A magazine 20 configured for use in a firearm10 can hold as few as one round, thirty rounds, or more than thirtyrounds.

FIG. 4A is a partial-cutaway, side view of the magazine 20 of FIG. 1,shown loaded with thirty live rounds 30. FIG. 4B is a side view of themagazine 20 of FIG. 4, shown loaded with thirty blanks 40. FIG. 4C is aside view of the magazine 20 of FIG. 4, shown loaded with twenty-eightblanks 30 and two live rounds 40. The follower 50 has been pushed downto the bottom of the magazine 20, and the spring 60 is also compressedat the bottom of the magazine 20.

Causes of blank-fire training exercise accidents will now be describedwith reference to FIG. 4C. Accidents during blank-fire operations may becaused by one of three common training errors. A first type of trainingerror occurs when one or more live rounds 36 are inadvertentlyintroduced into the magazine 20, along with blanks 44. For example, auser who reloads a magazine 20 at night or under duress and/or fatiguemay reach for and load a live round 36 into the magazine 20 instead ofblanks 44. Alternatively, a live round 36 may be inadvertently mixedwith blanks 44 in a can of blank ammunition, which is typically loadedone round at a time, as opposed to live ammunition, which is typicallyloaded ten rounds at a time on stripper clips. The user may thenimmediately or shortly thereafter load the magazine 20 into the firearm10 without inspecting the magazine 20 for live rounds 36, in order tocontinue participating in a training exercise as soon as possible. Theuser may then fire live rounds 36 from the firearm 10, not realizingthat the magazine 20 is not entirely loaded with blanks 44. It will beunderstood that while FIG. 4C illustrates live rounds 36 at the bottomof the magazine 20, the live rounds 36 may be located anywhere insidethe magazine 20 when this type of training error occurs.

A second training error occurs when the magazine 20 is not fullydownloaded after a live fire shoot, leaving live ammunition 36 at thebottom of the magazine, undetected. The user may pick up the magazine20, loaded with one or more live rounds 36, and inadvertently beginloading blanks 44 on top of the live rounds 36. This can occur, asdescribed above, if the user is loading the magazine 20 at night orunder low visibility, or if the user is loading the magazine underduress or fatigue. Alternatively, the user may simply be careless andnot notice the live rounds 36 at the top of the magazine 20 beforeloading blanks 44 on top of them. If the user does not completelydownload the magazine 20 before beginning to load blanks 36, or the userdoes not carefully inspect the magazine 20 to confirm its contents anddetect the presence of live rounds 36 pushed to the bottom of themagazine 20, an undetected live round 36 may be inadvertently fired fromthe firearm 10.

A third type of training error occurs when a magazine 20 loaded entirelywith live rounds 30, such as that illustrated in FIG. 4A, is placed inclose proximity to or mixed in with a magazine 20 loaded entirely withblanks 40, such as that illustrated in FIG. 4B. Other types of trainingerrors are possible, and may result in live rounds 30 being introducedinto the magazine 20 unbeknown to the user.

Military and law enforcement training protocols place great emphasis onpreventing such errors. Training procedures may mandate that userscompletely download and inspect every magazine before a single blank ispermitted to be introduced into the magazine. Training protocols mayalso require that all live rounds be turned into a central collectionarea after each live round evolution is completed, in an attempt toprevent unspent live rounds from remaining in a magazine and leaving thelive fire range undetected. Despite these precautions, human error,omissions, and carelessness still regularly cause live rounds to beintroduced into magazines used during blank-fire operations, causingserious injury and death to participants.

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the magazine 20 of FIG. 4C, illustratingthree live rounds 36 at the bottom of a magazine 20 loaded withtwenty-seven blanks 44. As a final precaution to detect live rounds inmagazines, training protocols may require physical inspection of allmagazines prior to blank-fire exercises. For example, trainingprocedures may require that each magazine in a user's possession beinspected by the user and/or a supervisor before a training session canbegin. Inspection procedures and disadvantages of such procedures willnow be described with reference to FIG. 5.

As described above with reference to FIG. 2, the blank 40 may have alength less than that of the live round 30. As a result, an empty space28 remains inside a magazine 20 loaded with blanks 44. To inspect themagazine 20 of a firearm 10, the inspector may hold the magazine 20close to one eye while shining a flashlight into the magazine 20. Theshaded region may indicate the area inside the magazine 20 that isvisible from above. The inspector can visually check for the presence oflive rounds 36 in the magazine 20 by determining if the empty space 28extends the entire height of the magazine 20, all the way to the bottomof the magazine 20.

There are several disadvantages with this inspection procedure, however.First, the magazine 20 is curved, making it difficult to detect a liveround at the very bottom of the magazine 20. Thus, a magazine 20 thathas been inspected as described above may still be loaded with a liveround 36 if the inspector did not shine a light into the magazine 20 orinspected the magazine 20 in a hurry. Alternatively, it is possible theinspector simply could not see the live round 36 due to lightingconditions, or because a live round 30 generally exhibits the same colorand reflective properties as a blank 40. Second, a supervisor conductinginspections in this manner may be required to inspect the magazines ofthirty personnel each carrying ten magazines apiece. Further, theinspections must take place prior to each blank-fire operation, of whichthere may be as many as five in one day. Thus, current inspectionprocedures may require that as many as fifteen hundred magazines beindividually picked up and searched with a light during the course ofone day's training exercises. The margin for human error, oversight, andcarelessness during such inspections is thus very large.

Magazine Safety Device

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the magazine from FIG. 4 with themagazine safety device 100 installed. FIG. 7 is an exploded view of themagazine 20 and the magazine safety device 100 of FIG. 6. One embodimentof the device 100 includes a spacer 200, a follower 300, and a spring 60(FIG. 7) which together are installed within a standard magazine 20.

The spacer 200, the follower 300, and the spring 60 can be efficientlyinstalled and removed from the magazine 20. Embodiments of the magazinesafety device 100 can allow a user to quickly and efficiently inspectthe magazine 20 to confirm the magazine is only loaded with blanks 40and thus is not loaded with live rounds 30. Advantageously, embodimentsof the magazine safety device 100 can provide a high visibilityindicator at the top portion 80 of the magazine 20 to indicate themagazine 20 is loaded solely with blanks 40. Additionally, embodimentsof the magazine safety device 100 can prevent the magazine 20 from beingloaded with a plurality of live rounds 30.

Persons of skill in the art will understand that the magazine safetydevice 100 can be implemented in any magazine or ammunition housing thatis engageable with or used in a firearm. Implementation of the magazinesafety device 100 is not limited to any specific type of firearm. Thus,the magazine safety device 100 can be used in an M-16 rifle, a rifle, orany other firearm. Further, as described in greater detail below, themagazine safety device 100 is not limited to preventing or permittingloading of live rounds and blanks, respectively, into the magazine 20.Embodiments of the magazine safety device 100 can prevent a plurality ofrounds having a first length from being loaded into the magazine 20,while allowing rounds having a second length to be loaded into themagazine 20, the first length being greater than the second length.

When the magazine safety device 100 is installed in the magazine 20, atleast a portion of the spacer 200 is disposed between the front wall 70and the rear wall 75 of the magazine 20. In one embodiment, the spacer200 is sized and shaped so as to be placed generally between the frontwall 70 and the rear wall 75 of the magazine 20, with a portion of thespacer 200 being disposed adjacent to the round loading opening 29. Inthis way, at least a portion of the spacer 200 reduces the size of theopening 29. In some embodiments, the spacer 200 extends for the entireheight H_(M) of the magazine 20 (FIG. 7). In other embodiments thespacer 200 extends for only a portion of the height of the magazine 20.One or more of the dimensions of the spacer 200 may be fixed or varyalong its length.

In another embodiment, the portion of the spacer 200 adjacent to theround loading 29 has a sufficient length L_(SPC) measured along the axisA to prevent the loading of a plurality of live rounds 30 through theopening 29 and into the magazine 20. In yet another embodiment, thespacer 200 extends between the upper portion 80 and the lower portion 85of the magazine 20 (FIG. 7). In still a further embodiment, a spacer 200includes a body sized and shaped so as to removably fit within thereceiving space of the magazine 20 and between the front and rear walls70, 75 so as to block only a portion of the upper opening 29. Thepartially blocked opening 29 can prevent a plurality of live rounds 30from being loaded into the magazine 20. In still another embodiment, thespacer 200 occupies a part of the empty space 28 (FIG. 5) that isnormally present in a magazine 20 loaded with blanks 40. In someaspects, the spacer 200 is stationary inside the magazine 20 when blanks40 are loaded into the magazine 20.

It will be understood that a magazine 20 comprising the magazine safetydevice 100 can accept and house ammunition cartridges and rounds ofvarious types and sizes, not just live rounds and blanks. In oneembodiment, the magazine safety device 100 prevents a plurality ofrounds of a first length from being loaded into the magazine 20, whileallowing rounds of a second length to be loaded into the magazine 20,the first length being greater than the second length. In anotherembodiment, the magazine safety device 100 prevents a plurality oflonger rounds from being loaded into the magazine 20, while allowingshorter rounds to be loaded into the magazine 20.

In yet another embodiment, the upper opening 29 of the magazine 20extends between the front wall 70 and the rear wall 75 and is configuredto receive rounds having a first length and rounds having a secondlength loaded into the receiving space of the magazine 20, the firstlength being greater than the second length. The spacer 200 can includea body sized and shaped so as to removably fit within the receivingspace and between the front and rear walls 70, 75 so as to block only aportion of the upper opening 29, the partially blocked openingpreventing a plurality of rounds having the first length from beingloaded into the magazine. Thus, in yet another embodiment, the magazinesafety device 100 can allow a user to quickly and efficiently inspectthe magazine 20 to confirm the magazine is only loaded with roundshaving a second length and thus is not loaded with any rounds having asecond length. Additionally, embodiments of the magazine safety device100 can prevent the magazine 20 from being loaded with a plurality ofrounds having the first length.

In some aspects, the magazine safety device 100 prevents any live rounds30 from being loaded into the magazine 20. Thus, in some embodiments, amagazine 20 that was capable of holding live rounds 30 is converted toonly being capable of holding blanks 40 by installing the magazinesafety device 100 into the magazine 20.

In other aspects, the magazine safety device 100 is configured toprevent live rounds 30 from being loaded into the magazine 20, excludingthe last loaded round. Thus, in some embodiments where the magazine 20is configured to house thirty rounds, the magazine safety device 100 canprevent any of the first twenty-nine rounds that are loaded into themagazine 20 from being a live round 30. In yet another embodiment, themagazine safety device 100 prevents a plurality of live rounds 30 frombeing loaded into the magazine 20.

The spacer 200 can accommodate a follower 300 which moves inside themagazine 20 as blanks 40 are loaded into the magazine 20. In oneembodiment, the follower 300 has a length L_(F) along the axis A that isless than the predetermined distance D. In another embodiment, thefollower 300 has a length L_(F) measured along the axis A that is notmore than a difference between the predetermined length D and the lengthof the spacer L_(SPC). In one embodiment, the follower 300 is disposedso as to move along a path within the housing of the magazine 20. Thespacer 200 may generally extend parallel to the path of the follower300.

As described above with reference to FIG. 4, the spring 60 can bias thefollower 300 in a direction towards the round loading opening 29 of themagazine 20. The spring 60 can have a length L_(SPC) (FIG. 7) measuredalong the axis A that is not more than a difference between thepredetermined length D and the length of the spacer L_(SPC).

In one embodiment, a magazine 20 equipped with the magazine safetydevice 100 does not accommodate a live round 30. As described above withreference to FIG. 2, a live round 30 can extend the entire predetermineddistance D of the magazine 20. In one embodiment, the presence of thespacer 200 in the magazine 20 prevents a plurality of live rounds 30,having a greater length L_(L) than a blank 40, from being inserted intothe magazine 20. In another embodiment, the presence of the spacer 200in the magazine 20 decreases the length of the round loading opening 29such that the length of the round loading opening 29 is less than thepredetermined distance D.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the magazine safety device 100 of FIGS.6 and 7 assembled together prior to installation within the magazine 20.FIG. 9 is a representative view of the magazine safety device from FIG.9 partially loaded with blanks. FIG. 10 is an opposite end perspectiveview of a follower and a spring assembled together from the magazinesafety device of FIG. 7. Methods of loading a magazine 20 comprising amagazine safety device 100 will now be described with reference to FIGS.8-10. The magazine 20 is not shown in FIGS. 8-10 to facilitate anunderstanding of the components of the safety device and how thecomponents engage with each other.

To load the magazine 20 with blanks 40, a first blank is positioned ontop of the follower 300 next to a bullet support member 352. The userthen pushes down on the round until it catches a lip 22 of the magazine20 (FIG. 4), forcing the follower 300 in the direction of arrow 54 andcompressing the spring 60 in the magazine 20. The follower 300 can slideinside a channel 210 of the spacer 200 when it is pushed into themagazine 20. In some aspects, the spring 60 is connected to the follower300 through a hole 310 in the follower 300.

A second blank is then inserted into the magazine 20 by positioning theround above the bullet support member 352 and pushing down on the roundin the direction of arrow 54 until it catches a lip 24 of the magazine20 (FIG. 4). The follower 300 slides further in the channel 210 of thespacer 200. More rounds are loaded in the same manner, pushing thefollower 300 further down into the magazine 20 and compressing thespring 60 further with each loaded round. As rounds are loaded into themagazine 20, the spacer 200 can remain stationary inside the magazine20. In one embodiment, the spacer 200 is disposed in the magazine atleast at the round loading opening 29 (FIGS. 6 and 7) of magazine 20. Insome aspects, a surface 220 of the spacer 200 remains visible at theround loading opening 29, independent of the location of the follower300 inside the magazine 20.

As the follower 300 is pushed further into the magazine 20 asillustrated in FIG. 9, the follower 300 may not be visible behind theblanks 40. In one embodiment, the spacer 200 is a different color thanthe magazine 20. The follower 300 may also be a different color than themagazine 20, such as but not limited to the same color as the spacer200. In another embodiment, the spacer 200 and the follower 300 are ahigh visibility or bright color, such as but not limited to blue. In yetanother embodiment, the spacer 200 and the follower 300 are a brightblue. As the follower slides further into the magazine 20, the presenceof the magazine safety device 100 can be confirmed by visually detectingthe spacer 200 in the magazine 20 at the opening 29. In anotherembodiment, a user is able to quickly detect the presence of a brightlycolored spacer 200 inside the magazine 20 by picking up the magazine andseeing the spacer 200 at the opening 29.

In some aspects, the user is aware that a magazine 20 equipped with amagazine safety device 100 comprising a spacer 200 cannot accommodate alive round 30. In other aspects, the user is aware that a magazine 20equipped with a magazine safety device 100 comprising a spacer 200cannot be loaded with a plurality of live rounds 30. Thus, the presenceof the spacer 200 according to some embodiments can be used to verifythat a live round 30 is not loaded in the magazine 20 during aninspection of the magazine 20. Advantageously, the user can detect thepresence of the spacer 200 in the magazine 20 regardless of the locationof the follower 300 in the magazine 20.

Spacer

FIG. 11A is a top elevation view of an embodiment of the spacer 200 ofthe magazine safety device 100. As described above with reference toFIGS. 8-10, the spacer 200 can, but need not, comprise a channel 210.The channel 210 can be configured to accommodate a portion of thefollower 300 as it moves within the magazine 20.

FIG. 11B is a right side elevation view of the spacer 200. In someembodiments, the left side elevation view of the spacer 200 issubstantially the same as the right side elevation view. FIG. 11C is afront side elevation view of the spacer 200. In some aspects, the backside elevation view of the spacer 200 is substantially the same as thefront side elevation view. The spacer 200 can comprise one or moretongues 225. The tongues 225 can be configured to be slidingly receivedwithin a groove 27 extending downwardly along the first wall 70 of themagazine 20 (FIGS. 4, 6). Persons of skill in the art will understandthat other configurations are possible. For example, embodiments of thespacer 200 are configured to accommodate the features of an M-16 riflemagazine 20, but the spacer 200 can be configured to accommodatemagazines of different weapons. The spacer 200 need not have any tongue225 and may merely be placed within the magazine 20 without engagingwith the magazine 20.

The spacer 200 can be made of any suitable material, such as but notlimited to plastic or metal. A portion or the entire spacer 200 can becurved or straight. In some embodiments, the spacer 200 is made of highdensity polyethylene, or HDPE. In some aspects, the spacer 200 is madeof a soft, malleable plastic. The use of a soft material may facilitateinsertion of a straight spacer 200 into the magazine 20, which may becurved. In some aspects, the spacer 200 is flexible so as to bend wheninserted in a curved magazine 20. Of course the spacer 200 may bemanufactured to have a curve. Preferably the curved spacer matches thecurve of the magazine 20. The curved spacer 200 may facilitate insertioninto a curved magazine 200 and further allow the spacer 200 to be madefrom less flexible materials, including metal.

Embodiments of the spacer prevent a magazine from holding any liverounds. For example, FIG. 11D is a partial perspective view of anembodiment of a spacer 600 which prevents a live round 30 from beinginstalled as the last round in the magazine 20. FIG. 11E is a partialtop elevation view of the spacer 600 of FIG. 11D. At least a portion ofthe spacer 600 extends above the top of the magazine 20. In this way,the installed spacer 600 extends through the round loading opening 29and slightly above the top of the magazine 20.

As is illustrated in FIG. 11D, a portion or region 610 of the surface220 of the spacer 600 is disposed above the top of the magazine 20. Ofcourse the spacer 600 is not limited to a single portion or region andmay include multiple separate portions which extend above the magazine20. Each portion may have a different size or shape from anotherportion. The spacer 600 has a sufficient height such that when thespacer 600 is installed in the magazine 20, the top of the spacer 600extends above the top of the magazine 20 to prevent a live round 30 frombeing installed as the last round in the magazine, without interferingwith the operation of the firearm 10, the process of loading blanks intothe magazine 20, or the loading of the magazine 20 into the firearm 10.

The portion 610 which extends above the magazine 20 can have variousshapes or sizes. For example, the portion 610 can be a protrusion, spot,ridge, and/or can have a flat, curved, slanted, angled; curvilinear,convex or concave shape. Preferably, the size and/or shape of the spacer600 is selected so as to not interfere with the operation of the firearm10.

As is illustrated in FIG. 11D, the portion 610 of the surface 220 of thespacer 600 is disposed above the top of the magazine 20 when the spacer600 is inserted into the magazine 20. The portion 610 is curvilinear andcomprises a groove 620 along the width of the spacer 600. As explainedabove, the size and shape of the portion is not limited by theillustrated embodiment. In some aspects, the portion 610 includes arecess 630, and may be slanted or tapered along the length of the spacer600. The recess 630 may form protrusions 640, 650 on either side of therecess 630. Other configurations are possible.

Follower

FIG. 12 is a front view of a follower 50 which can be loaded into themagazine of FIG. 1 when the safety device 100 is removed from themagazine 20. As described above with reference to FIG. 4, the follower50 can extend between the front wall 70 and the rear wall 75 of themagazine 20. The follower 50 includes a bullet support member 52 in theshape of a cartridge. In one embodiment, the follower 50 has a lengthsubstantially equal to the length of a live round, L_(L). In anotherembodiment, the follower 50 has a length substantially equal to that ofa round having a first length. In yet another embodiment, the follower50 is disposed between the front and rear walls 70, 75, which are spacedapart along an axis by a predetermined length D. The follower 50 canhave a length measured along the axis A that is substantially equal tothe predetermined length D. In still a further embodiment, the followerhas a length measured along the axis A that is substantially equal to around loading opening 29 disposed in the upper portion 70 of themagazine 20.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are front and back elevation views, respectively, ofthe follower 300 of the magazine safety device 100. FIGS. 13C and 13Dare right and left side elevation views, respectively, of the follower300. FIGS. 13E and 13F are bottom and top elevation views, respectively,of the follower 300. Features of the follower 300 will now be describedwith reference to FIGS. 13A-13F.

In one embodiment, the follower 300 has a length substantially equal tothe length of a blank round, L_(B). In another embodiment, the follower300 has a length substantially equal to that of a round having a secondlength that is less than a first length. In yet another embodiment, thefollower 300 is disposed between the front and rear walls 70, 75, whichare spaced apart along an axis by a predetermined length D. The follower300 can have a length measured along the axis A that is not more than adifference between the predetermined length D and the length of thespacer 200. In still a further embodiment, the follower has a lengthmeasured along the axis A that is substantially equal to a partiallyblocked round loading opening 29.

The follower 300 can comprise a guide 320 configured to slide within thechannel 210 of the spacer 200 (FIG. 8). In some aspects, the follower300 comprises a bullet support member 352 configured to properly seatthe first blank 40 loaded into the magazine 20. The follower 300 canalso include an extrusion or pin 330 configured to accommodate thespring 60. As described above, the spring 60 may connect to the follower300 through a hole 310 in the post 330.

Methods of Installing the Magazine Spacer Device

FIG. 14A is a partial cut-away, perspective view of the magazine 20 fromFIG. 4 with the bottom plate removed and showing the magazine safetydevice 100 as the device is being installed within the magazine. Thespring 60 is shown artificially compressed in this aspect, and thefollower 300 is shown as it is being installed into the magazine 20.FIG. 14B is a partial cut-away, perspective view of the magazine 20 fromFIG. 14A after installation of the magazine safety device 100 andreplacement of the bottom plate. Persons of skill in the art willunderstand that a magazine 20 configured to accommodate both live rounds30 and blanks 40 can be modified and/or retrofitted to accommodateblanks 40 using the magazine safety device 100. FIG. 15 is a flowchartillustrating one method for modifying a magazine 20 with the magazinesafety device 100 to prevent a plurality of live rounds 30 from beingloaded into the magazine 20, and to facilitate inspection of themagazine 20 to confirm no live rounds 30 are loaded in the magazine 20.

With reference now to FIGS. 14A, 14B, and 15, the method begins at block510 in which the bottom plate 400 is removed from a magazine 20configured to accept either live rounds 30 and blanks 40, or both. Insome aspects, the bottom plate 400 is removed by sliding the plate 400away from the magazine 20 in the direction of arrow 405.

Moving to a block 520, the spring 60 and the follower 50 or “firstfollower” (FIG. 4) are removed from the magazine 20 through a bottomopening 410 in the magazine 20. In one embodiment, the first follower isthe stock or original follower in the magazine 20. At block 530, thespring 60 is disconnected from the first follower 50.

Moving next to a block 540, the spacer 200 is inserted into the magazine20 through the opening 410. The spacer 200 can be pushed into themagazine 20 until at least a portion of the surface 220 is adjacent tothe round loading opening 29 of the magazine 20. As described above, thespacer 200 may be made of a flexible material that bends with the curveof the magazine 20 as the spacer 200 is inserted into the magazine 20.

At block 550, the spring 60 is connected to the follower 300 or “secondfollower” by inserting the end of the spring 60 into the hole 310 of thefollower 300 (FIGS. 13C-13D).

The method next moves to a block 560, in which the follower 300 and thespring 60 are inserted into the magazine 20. In one embodiment, theguide 320 of the follower 300 is aligned in the channel 210 of thespacer 200 at the opening 410 of the magazine 20. The follower 300 isthen pushed into the magazine 20, along with the spring 60, such thatthe guide 320 slides within the channel 210. The follower 300 can bepushed through the magazine 20 until the follower 300 contacts or isadjacent to the lips 22, 24 of the magazine 20.

Moving next to a block 570, the bottom plate 400 is reconnected to themagazine 20. In one embodiment, the user manually compresses the spring60 inside the magazine 20 while sliding the bottom plate 400 over theopening 410. Thus, in some aspects, the spring 60 is compressed slightlywhen the magazine 20 is fully assembled.

At block 580, the magazine 20 is loaded with one or more blanks 40. Asdescribed above with reference to FIGS. 8-9, the surface 220 of thespacer 200 can remain visible at an opening 29 of the magazine 20,independent of the number of blanks 40 that are loaded into the magazine20 and independent of the location of the follower 300 inside themagazine 20.

Other methods of modifying a magazine 20 are possible. For example, insome embodiments, a kit is provided to convert a magazine capable ofholding live rounds to a magazine capable of holding only holdingblanks. In other embodiments, the kit converts a magazine capable ofholding live rounds to a magazine capable of holding only blanks, up tobut not including the last loaded round. The kit may comprise a spacer200 and a follower 300. In some embodiments, the kit may also include aspring 65. In one aspect, the follower 300 and the spring 65 arepreassembled in the kit.

In another embodiment of the method described above with reference toFIG. 15, a spring 65 is provided in the kit. The spring 65 may be thesame or substantially similar to the spring 60 removed from the magazine20. Thus, at block 530, a user who uses the kit to modify the magazine20 may not disconnect the spring 60 from the first follower 50 at block530. In embodiments where the spring 65 is not preassembled with thefollower 300 in the kit, the user may connect the spring 65 to thefollower 300 at block 550. Alternatively, in embodiments where thespring 65 is preassembled with the follower 300 in the kit, the user mayskip step 550 and move to block 560, where the preassembled spring 65and follower 300 are inserted into the magazine 20. It will thus beunderstood by persons of skill in the art that a spring 60 can used in amagazine 20 with or without the magazine safety device 100, and that thespring 60 can be reused in a magazine 20 that has been retrofitted withthe magazine safety device 100.

While the above detailed description has shown, described, and pointedout novel features of the invention as applied to various embodiments,it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changesin the form and details of the devices and methods illustrated may bemade by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit ofthe invention. As will be recognized, the invention may be embodiedwithin a form that does not provide all of the features and benefits setforth herein, as some features may be used or practiced separately fromothers. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claimsrather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come withinthe meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embracedwithin their scope.

1. A kit for converting a magazine capable of holding live rounds tobeing capable of only holding blanks at a bottom of the magazine, theblanks having a length less than a length of the live rounds, themagazine including an upper portion, a lower portion, a front wall, anda rear wall, the front and rear walls defining at least part of anopening in the upper portion and into the magazine, the front and rearwalls being spaced apart along an axis by a predetermined length that isgreater than the length of the live rounds, the kit comprising: a spacersized and shaped so as to be placed generally between the front and rearwalls with a portion of the spacer being disposed adjacent to theopening, the portion of the spacer adjacent to the opening having alength measured along the axis to prevent loading of a plurality of thelive rounds through the opening and into the magazine and allow loadingof the blanks through the opening and into the magazine; and a followerconfigured to slide within the magazine.
 2. The kit of claim 1, whereinthe follower has a length measured along the axis that is not more thana difference between the predetermined length and the length of thespacer.
 3. The kit of claim 1 further comprising a spring configured tobias the follower in a direction towards the opening, the spring havinga length measured along the axis that is not more than a differencebetween the predetermined length and the length of the spacer.
 4. Thekit of claim 1, wherein the spacer extends between the upper portion andthe lower portion.
 5. The kit of claim 1, wherein the spacer includes atongue configured to be slidingly received within a groove in themagazine.
 6. The kit of claim 1, wherein the spacer is a different colorthan the magazine.
 7. The kit of claim 1, wherein the spacer is blue. 8.A spacer for converting a magazine to prevent the magazine from holdinga plurality of live rounds while allowing the magazine to hold blanks,the blanks having a length less than a length of the live rounds, themagazine including an upper portion, a lower portion, a front wall, anda rear wall, the front and rear walls defining at least part of anopening in the upper portion and into the magazine, the front and rearwalls being spaced apart along an axis by a predetermined length that isgreater than the length of the live rounds, the spacer comprising: abody sized and shaped so as to be placed generally between the front andrear walls with a portion of the spacer being disposed adjacent to theopening.
 9. The spacer of claim 8, wherein the portion of the spaceradjacent to the opening has a length measured along the axis to preventloading of a plurality of the live rounds through the opening and intothe magazine and allow loading of the blanks through the opening andinto the magazine.
 10. A magazine for use with a firearm, the magazinecomprising: a body for supporting rounds and having a round loadingopening; a follower disposed so as to move along a path within the body;and a spacer removably disposed in the body and generally extendingparallel to the path of the follower, the spacer selectively allowinginsertion of rounds through the round loading opening and into the bodyat least when the spacer is disposed within the body.
 11. The magazineof claim 10 further comprising a spring biasing the follower in adirection towards the round loading opening.
 12. The magazine of claim10, wherein the spacer is sized and shaped so as to allow blanks havinga first length to be loaded into the magazine and preventing a pluralityof live rounds having a second length from being loaded into themagazine, the first length being less than the second length.
 13. Themagazine of claim 12, wherein the body includes a front wall spaced froma rear wall by a predetermined length, the predetermined length beinggreater than the second length.
 14. The magazine of claim 10, whereinthe magazine is curved and the spacer is curved so as to generally matchthe curve of the magazine.
 15. A spacer for use with a magazine thatholds rounds and is engageable with a firearm, the magazine having afront wall and a rear wall defining at least a portion of a receivingspace and an upper opening, the upper opening extending between thefront and rear walls and being configured to receive rounds having afirst length and rounds having a second length loaded into the receivingspace, the first length being greater than the second length, the spacercomprising: a body sized and shaped so as to removably fit within thereceiving space and between the front and rear walls so as to block onlya portion of the upper opening, the partially blocked opening preventinga plurality of rounds having the first length from being loaded into themagazine.
 16. The spacer of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of thebody comprises HDPE.
 17. The spacer of claim 15, wherein at least aportion of the body is curved.
 18. The spacer of claim 15, wherein therounds having the first length are live rounds and the rounds having thesecond length are blanks.
 19. A magazine for a firearm, the magazinecomprising: a shell having an upper portion, a lower portion, a frontwall and a rear wall, the front and rear walls being spaced apart alongan axis by a predetermined length; a plate being formed at the lowerportion; a groove extending downwardly along the front wall; a spacer atleast partially supported by the groove, at least a portion of thespacer being disposed between the first and second walls; an openingformed at the upper portion and having a length along the axis that isless than the predetermined length at least when the spacer is disposedwithin the shell; a follower movably disposed within the shell; and aspring biasing the follower in a direction towards the opening.
 20. Themagazine of claim 19, wherein the follower is generally verticallymovable and includes a bullet support member, and a pin extending fromthe follower in a downward direction.
 21. The magazine of claim 20,wherein the follower further comprises an extrusion formed on a bottomof the follower for receiving at least a portion of the spring.